Murder suspect Karri Benoir was wheeled into a Burlington courtroom Wednesday by her father. She had one arm and one leg in casts and a long scar across her forehead.

The hearing marked the first time Benoir, 23, of Barre has appeared in court since she was involved in a nearly head-on crash last month on Interstate 89. Brendon Cousino, an emergency medical technician and father of three from Richmond, was killed, and Benoir was thrown from her vehicle and hospitalized with severe injuries.

Prosecutors say they brought charges after determining she intentionally steered across the median in a suicide attempt. The defense denies that allegation.

During Wednesday's hearing, Benoir re-entered pleas of not guilty to charges of second-degree murder and grossly negligent driving with a fatality resulting. She previously was arraigned by phone from a rehabilitation center.

At issue in court: whether Benoir should be held without bail while her case is pending. She originally was jailed at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility for lack of $100,000 after her discharge from the hospital, but Benoir posted bail Tuesday and was released to the custody of her parents.

Vermont State Police Lt. Garry Scott said marks on the road show that Benoir made a sharp left turn while traveling southbound July 30, taking her across the median and into the northbound lane, where her car collided with the sedan driven by Cousino, 30, of Richmond.

Crash witness Amber Miles of Burlington testified Wednesday she saw Benoir's car turn almost 90 degrees to the left as the vehicle entered the median. Miles was in the passenger seat of a car headed south on I-89 when Benoir's car passed by in the left lane just before the crash.

Southbound traffic was much lighter than northbound traffic, Miles said. She never saw brake lights activate on Benoir's vehicle, Miles testified, nor did she see any signs Benoir was attempting to slow down.

"The way the median was shaped, the vehicle went over the median, and it's kind of shaped like a 'U,' so when it went up the other side, it kind of gained a little air," Miles said. "It seemed to be top-heavy, so it seemed to nose dive in the air and into the hood of the Civic."

Benoir's former fiance Michael Morissette, 36, testified Wednesday he and Benoir had a fight via instant message on Facebook earlier the day of the crash. The disagreement led to a physical altercation when she came to his house in Montpelier to pick up one of her cats, he said.

Morissette testified he had trouble remembering many details of the day because he was "pretty shaken up."

Morissette described his six-and-a-half-month relationship with Benoir as "rocky at times, but we did have good times, too."

After leaving Morissette's home, Benoir told Morissette she wanted to break up, Morissette said. Later in the day, she told Morissette she was on the Beltline in Barre and was considering driving off the road, he testified.

"I didn't think much of it," Morissette said. "I don't know. I think she said it just to upset me. She has said those types of things in the past just to upset me."

Morissette began to cry at points during his testimony, especially while defense attorney Rob Sussman attempted to poke holes what he said. Benoir remained calm and stared straight ahead.

"I've been under a lot of stress, and I've barely been eating for the past couple of weeks," Morissette said through tears. "I've lost 15 pounds. I've been a mess."

Prosecutors examine evidence in the case of Karri Benoir on Wednesday in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington.(Photo: KEVIN HURLEY/for the FREE PRESS)

State Trooper Jacob Metayer, who questioned Benoir three hours after the crash, said Benoir was unsure why she was in the Richmond area or why she was not wearing her seat belt in her car. Metayer asked Benoir whether she thought what happened possibly was a suicide attempt, and Benoir said it might have been.

State prosecutors presented about three hours of evidence Wednesday before running up against the court's closing time of 4:30 p.m. The hearing was continued until 1 p.m. Thursday. Judge Samual Hoar will issue a final decision on Benoir's bail status.

Benoir declined comment as she left the courtroom with her parents.

State prosecutors argue that Benoir was attempting to kill herself while driving on I-89 on July 30 by intentionally aiming her car off the southbound side of the highway and through the median. Her Toyota Corolla hit Cousino's car as he was traveling north. Cousino died at the scene, police said.

Sussman said he rejects the state's claim that Benoir is a suicide or public-safety risk.

If convicted of second-degree murder, Benoir faces a possible prison sentence of 20 years to life.

Karri Benoir, charged with second-degree murder in the July 30 death of Brendon Cousino on I-89 in Richmond, appears this summer in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington. Police say she was arrested again Nov. 16 on suspicion of violating conditions of release.(Photo: KEVIN HURLEY/for the FREE PRESS)

This story was first posted online on Aug. 19, 2015. Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LizMurraySMC.